St. PJ
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In 40 years, we have had one playoff win. How are we, as fans, going to act if the Saints continue to do well? Going into the season, I firmly believed and posted time and time again that the Saints would go somewhere between 6-10 at worst and 10-6 at best. I thought for sure we would start out 3-0 and was nervous about making the worst if we did not. Sitting at 5-1 right now, if we can go .500, we will be 10-6.
Now, of course I am hoping for better. Our coaching staff has already proved capable of gameplanning around our weaknesses and our players have showed that they can overcome adversity and keep focus amiss media distractions like on Monday Night. However, we have a very brutal schedule remaining, with other "good" teams that will be desperate and badly need wins becuase of the pressures and expectations they had going into the season. We have weaknesses in the secondary and an inconsistant run defense. Our offense is a rhythm offense and slow starts have made a few games tougher than need be.
Despite these things and problems like the offensive line and overall defense at the beggining of the season, our coaching staff has been able to offset and mask these things with a very smart gameplan that changes from week to week and stays flexible during games as defenses catch on to what we do. Now, I will take a win any way we can get one. I hope that our team really excels in December, getting on a roll of doing well in all phases of the game.
Once December comes around though, how will we as fans handle the success? I certainly do not think we are conditioned for it considering the Saints history. How high will expectations be for both this year and next? How realistic? How much pressure and hype will both fans and local media put on the team? How much pressure when the National Media coverage continues to grow?
How will the TEAM handle the success? They have stayed focused and disciplined thus far, but will they become complacent once they reach their initial goals and start getting all the attention they will recieve? It is a good thing we have a player like Reggie Bush who is used to playing on the #1 ranked team in the nation, under much the same expectations and pressures. Maybe this makes a big difference in the locker room.
How will Tom Benson handle the success? After our first playoff victory he demanded a new stadium and money from the state. Will he keep his mouth shut and let the fans and the state have what they deserve? Will he be patient and let success come to him as a result of consistantly having a good franchise, season after season? Or will he and this new commish, along with the owners say " The fans showed how much they love their Saints, but post-Katrina New Orleans and Gulf Coast just don't have the corporate viability to help support a proffesional franchise. We gave it a shot, but even in times of success were not able to sell out all of our suites." ?
That is something I worry more than losing. Will Benson use this success as leverage to get more money has he has done in the past? And if he does not get it, will he use that as leverage to move the Saints? Will this new commish keep the pressure on him to stay in NOLA? Or will he sit in the background while this team does well for the next 5 years? Give me your thoughts. Feed back will be appreciated.
Now, of course I am hoping for better. Our coaching staff has already proved capable of gameplanning around our weaknesses and our players have showed that they can overcome adversity and keep focus amiss media distractions like on Monday Night. However, we have a very brutal schedule remaining, with other "good" teams that will be desperate and badly need wins becuase of the pressures and expectations they had going into the season. We have weaknesses in the secondary and an inconsistant run defense. Our offense is a rhythm offense and slow starts have made a few games tougher than need be.
Despite these things and problems like the offensive line and overall defense at the beggining of the season, our coaching staff has been able to offset and mask these things with a very smart gameplan that changes from week to week and stays flexible during games as defenses catch on to what we do. Now, I will take a win any way we can get one. I hope that our team really excels in December, getting on a roll of doing well in all phases of the game.
Once December comes around though, how will we as fans handle the success? I certainly do not think we are conditioned for it considering the Saints history. How high will expectations be for both this year and next? How realistic? How much pressure and hype will both fans and local media put on the team? How much pressure when the National Media coverage continues to grow?
How will the TEAM handle the success? They have stayed focused and disciplined thus far, but will they become complacent once they reach their initial goals and start getting all the attention they will recieve? It is a good thing we have a player like Reggie Bush who is used to playing on the #1 ranked team in the nation, under much the same expectations and pressures. Maybe this makes a big difference in the locker room.
How will Tom Benson handle the success? After our first playoff victory he demanded a new stadium and money from the state. Will he keep his mouth shut and let the fans and the state have what they deserve? Will he be patient and let success come to him as a result of consistantly having a good franchise, season after season? Or will he and this new commish, along with the owners say " The fans showed how much they love their Saints, but post-Katrina New Orleans and Gulf Coast just don't have the corporate viability to help support a proffesional franchise. We gave it a shot, but even in times of success were not able to sell out all of our suites." ?
That is something I worry more than losing. Will Benson use this success as leverage to get more money has he has done in the past? And if he does not get it, will he use that as leverage to move the Saints? Will this new commish keep the pressure on him to stay in NOLA? Or will he sit in the background while this team does well for the next 5 years? Give me your thoughts. Feed back will be appreciated.
